Transformation of china's national defense strategy: A quest for hegemony?

This thesis focuses on China's defense strategy, as it has been striding in confidence with its significant economic progress, especially under the Deng administration and thus on how China stands as a new superpower candidate with its increasing power in the economic and military context. Apart from the United States (US)'s growing into a superpower with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China has been shown as a new superpower candidate in the world over the years with its progress in many areas such as military, economic, and political. But the most important factor is its international recognition. This study aims to focus on China's military power and, in this context, its defense strategy, and to examine the transformation of China's defense strategy during the last three terms by the heads of state, namely, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping. For this purpose, the thesis attempts to present the subject transformation based on the guidance of the defense documents published by the Chinese government with academic studies and developments.